David Tennant: doesn’t know what an eggplant emoji signifies
Michael Sheen: has an AO3 account with approximately 600 bookmarks
I can’t stop thinking about this. Like. OK. He knows there’s a lot of fanfiction– did he read it, or did he just check the ratings and summaries? Did he read it as a fan, before he was cast? or after? Did he go on ao3? Did he go on LJ? Did he just google “Good Omens fanfiction” and see what came up (Probably fanfiction.net)? Have I read the same fanfiction that influenced Michael Sheen? Have you?
@runawaymarbles so, apparently (so say the screencaps going around tumblr anyway), supposedly, someone on Twitter literally @’d him and asked if he had read a SPECIFIC fic, and gave the AO3 link
Sheen’s response was simply “A classic.”
That’s it. That’s all he allegedly said, apparently?? “A classic.”
Which…unless this is faked (I don’t think it is?? I haven’t checked actual twitter because I don’t like their navigation bleh)….this implies he definitely has read that PARTICULAR fic. And enjoyed it. A lot. (I hope the fic’s author, if they know of this, is pleased rather than just hideously embarassed or flustered lol)
But like…in those TWO WORDS… implies also one of the following:
Possibility 1.) He read it only because they linked it and so why not, but he STILL READ IT, even though he no longer had to do “research for the role”. Meaning he’s reading it FOR FUN??
Possibility 2.) He read it PREVIOUSLY, which means at least one of the sites he was reading on is/was likely AO3, unless it’s one that is archived at AO3 but previously posted or cross-posted to other places like FFN or LJ
Possibility 2.5) Implied in the fact he called it a “classic”…this may depend on the exact fic, which I don’t know off the top of my head and I’m new to the fandom proper for this book/show, so I have NO IDEA whether this is a NEW “classic” that he simply approves of…or…..OR, it’s an older well-known fic (I mean, it was rec’d by someone?? so??), that he read previously POSSIBLY LIKE BACK WHEN FANDOM WAS MOSTLY ON LIVEJOURNAL AND PERSONAL SITES AND SUCH which, wow that’s a thought
Anyway, I somewhat doubt 2.5 because really what are the odds, but it’s a potential possibility and really, either of the first two options have got to to be the case (though obviously, they’re mutually exclusive, so it’s one or the other)
Either way, he definitely, openly, without any hint of embarassment and with full joy enjoys fanfic of the book/series, officially and openly seems to favor Ineffable Husbands/Air Conditioning as a ship, and has no trouble expressing both of those things. One of us!!!
This must be giving some “older” fandom members - for example, the folks from SPN or Sherlock fandom - whiplash/making them pinch themselves to see if they’re awake, considering MOST male actors’ PAST reactions to hearing there is queer fanfic of them or their characters has seemd to be “weirded out” or at least treat it like a (potentially uncomfortable) joke but here’s Michael “One of us” Sheen, being openly embracing of it and describing it as beautiful and creative and enjoyable literature containing characterization so good he literally deliberately took inspiration from it collectively when playing the character in an adaptation of the original.
like??? have we EVER had a fandom that did this?? hell, have we ever had a fandom where people GOT AWAY with it??
I’m thinking, like…the way some Early Generation Fandom Ladies who were lucky enough to live near where it was filmed have described it, Gene Roddenberry in PRIVATE was totally fine with them writing K/S Star Trek slash on the down-low and talking about the characters as having a potentially romantic bond, because he was a mostly-progressive dude who figured such a thing being taboo was something humanity ideally would grow out of in the Utopian Space Future since it wasn’t ~logical~ and was based on irrational superstition BUT IT’S NOT LIKE HE OPENLY ADMITTED IT OR LIKE THE ACTORS TOOK “THE PREMISE” AND RAN WITH IT AND THEN LIKE LITERALLY HAPPILY CHATTED UP WITH REPORTERS ABOUT HOW “IN LOVE” THE CHARACTERS WERE
But that’s…that’s literally exactly what happened here. Both half the original writing team of the book, AND BOTH of the cast members took a look at the fandom response, said “you know what? you’re right, that would make a damn good love story for the ages” and just.
did it.
and even talked openly and affectionately about it, with ZERO fear of people being queerphobic/homophobic at them over it, they just…did that.
And then Sheen just goes on Twitter and happily acknowledges SPECIFIC FICS that pair his character with his co-star’s, which is literally like walking up to Shatner and asking if he’s read any good stories about “the premise” lately and having his eyes light up and inform you which ‘zine had his favorite Kirk/Spock love story in it.
And just??? To Sheen, it’s clearly no big deal?? He just…enjoys it, doesn’t care who knows it, and agrees a lot of it is good fiction?? Like?? He’s not treating it like it’s some weird underground thing or silly frivolous hobby or even that it was at all ~surprising~ that at least some of it was quite good, and that is…wow.
